Sprinkler



L. R. NELSON Nov. 19, 1940.

SPRINKLER Filed Jan. 24, 1938 Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES SPRINKLER Lewen R. Nelson, Peoria, Ill.

Application January 24, 1938, Serial No. 186,662

16 Claims.

This invention relates to sprinklers both of the slowly rotating, and popup types for installation on piping systems employed for'lawns and golf courses.

An object of the invention is to provide a form of structure in a sprinkler of the present typethat can be readily disassembled for repair of its parts without the necessity of removingthe body of the device from the stand pipe upon which it is mounted.

Another object lies in the provision of a new and eflicient manner of securing -in sprinkling position certain adjustable sprinkler nozzles-by friction means, such means while normally securing the nozzles in fixed position during operation of the sprinkler will permit adjustmentof such nozzles by the fingers of the attendant without the use of tools. Further, that in a sprinkler restricted in height, as sometimes desired, the nozzles and the securing means therer for may be stationed within a discharge head thereof, no part of the structure lying within the usual cavity of said head from which water is-supplied to said nozzles, and thus said head may be of but a single part or unit.

Again an object is toso fashion and mount the nozzle securing means that it and said nozzle may be readily placed in positionor removed without disassembling the sprinkler.

offree driving ring or collar for rotatinganozzlecarrying-stem by which excessive-wear of ,the stem and the ring or collar itself Willbeprevented besides a reduction of clatter due to impactof the commonly used metallic parts.

That the. inventionmay be fully understood the appended drawing is provided to form part shown in Figure 1.

The body of the sprinkler is indicated at- I,

this having threaded engagement with astand.

pipe or stub 2 of any usual piping system, not

shown.

Still another object is to provide a new type Figure 6 is a plan of parts of a pair of nozzles Within the body near its lower extremity is a plate 3 of a more or less familiar type. It is perforated centrally at 4 and forms a guide for a pistonliketubular stem 5 of hexagon or like form, Figure 2, providing longitudinally extending ribs or corners, such stem being also guided in a plate 6 seated'in the top walls of said body and spaced from said plate 3.

In addition to the central opening 4 the plate 3 is provided with a series of perforations 3' arranged on-a circle about said opening 4, and at each is a depending angularly placed lip 3 all so arranged as to cause water entering the perforations to take up a swirling circular movement Within the chamber of the body l created between-the named plates 3 and 6'.

A cage or housing Tsurmounts the body I and serves to clamp the plate 6 in position by means of screws 8, but one of which is shown. The stem Eels provided, with inlet ports 9 for Water and on said stem above the parts is an annular flange or plate Ill.

In addition, the stem is reduced in diameter and receives a collar 5 an edge of which abuts a shoulder -5 of said stem, said collar being rotatable upon the reduced portion within the open ing 4,- beingheld in position on the stem by a flanged member 5 threaded upon the stem and water into such stem, such opening being of any desired area found proper to the operation to be later described.

Above the flange l0 onsaid stem 5 is a ring a lying between a pair of ringsb, b preferabl of leather. These three rings encircle the stem, the whole acting as a buifer between saidflange I0 and the plate 6-when the stem is projected toward said plate during sprinkler action, and to act as apacking aroundthe stem at saidplate.

Normally resting upon the plate 3 is a driving ring or collar, not new in itself, in the art, but havinga new and advantageous form herein.

Said ring or collar includes a heavy outer ring ll of metal for the usual driving purpose and within itis a non-metallic ring or liner l2, preferably of soft rubber. In this instance the last named ring constitutes a thimble having flanged ends l3 each of which overlies an end surface of said rin ll. Said ring l2 may, of course, be moulded about the said ring II but if of soft rubber, as stated, it maybe collapsed from its natural ring form and pushed through the metal ring H where it will regainits form about that member and appear as shown inthe drawing,

the opening of the complete ring being preferably of hexagon or other similar form.

Surmounting the stem 5 and fixed thereto in any approved manner is a body It having a cavity l5 communicating with the bore of the said stem.

At two diametrically opposite positions the body is provided in an upper Wall with two cavities it each communicating with the named cavity i5. The walls of the cavities 16 are provided with threads and each said cavity receives a similarly threaded collar H, see Figures 3 and 4, each of which receives the stem of a nozzle 58. Near the extremity of each stem is an annular groove i9 which receives a split washer 20 of a well known form, this constituting a flange extending from the nozzle-stem as shown and adapted to lie within an annular recess 2| in the inner end of each said collar H. A cavity 22 is created in the wall of the body it, Figure 4, forming a seat for a packing ring 23. When assembling these parts it is believed to be clear that the stem I8 is extended beyond the collar ll before the latter is screwed into the body [4 as in Figure 3, whereupon the split washer 20 can be shifted into the groove If! the said collar being then screwed into position resulting in forcing the free extension of the nozzle upon the ring 23, and ince the latter seats in the recess 2!, Figure 4, no amount of pressure of the collar thereon will spread it since it abuts the walls of such recess and, therefore, there is no likelihood of the assembled parts freeing themselves. When firmly set up the considerable friction between the stem and ring 23 will hold the nozzle from turning during any action of the sprinkler, the friction in no way preventing manual rotation of the nozzle to any desired position. This arrangement or any equivalent thereof is, therefore, very desirable since no tools are necessary for adjusting purposes. And since the split rin is employed, held in locked position in the recess 2 l,'no amount of Water pressure can dislodge the nozzle.

Due to the arrangement of the parts described and shown, and their relation to the body l4, they may be readily placed in position, adjusted, or removed from the outside, all such parts being wholly outside the chamber or cavity l5 as compared with some of the older types of sprinkler where the body is required to be made in separate parts in order to reach the nozzle securing means lying within such chamber or cavity.

The cage or housing has an opening 24 in its top Wall closed by a cap 25 mounted on a stem 26 all old and well known, except as arranged herein, the said stem having a piston-like lower end 27 carrying a packing ring 28 to enter a recess 29 in the body Hi.

When Water is admitted to the body I through the plate 3 an intense swirling thereof is created within the chamber above said plate as it enters through the openings 3. This action naturally sets up a rapid rotation of the ring ll, [2 together with a rotation of the stem 5 and also the body i l carrying the nozzles It. At the same time water in passing up through the bore of said stem 5 through the ports 9 and the opening 5 operates upon the stem 26 to raise it and lift the cap 25, the action of the water also lifting the stem 5 for the purpose of projecting the nozzle 88 through the opening 24 exposed by said cap.

Due to the intense swirl of the Water created by the manner of its passage through the plate 3 the inner facets of the said ring I2, 13 during rotation engage the projecting corners of the stem 5 causing a drag on the stem and rotative action thereof. Under varying pressures of water different rates of rotation of the stem result and a control of the latter is found to be necessary, such control being furnished in the adjustability of the nozzles I3 in that by imparting manually rotative adjustment thereto toward and away from the axis of rotation of the head 14 they, through their stream discharges, may be coordinated With the action of the said ring I2, l3 to provide an accurate control of the stem for its steady rotation for the best results. The driving power of the ring depends, of course, upon the rate of flow of water through the body I and this is determined by the area of the opening 5 in the member 5 at the lower end of the stem 5. If this opening is too large the velocity of water flow may not impart a sufficient striking force of the ring upon the stem. In this event the nozzles in the issue of water therefrom may cause an irregular, jerky, or whipping action of stem rotation. That is to say, the stem during part of its movement may be slow, followed by a quick pick up during any single rotation. There can be therefore, a nice coordination of action between the ring action and the proper setting of said nozzles to bring about a smooth and steady rotative movement of the structure. Best results are possible when the greatest driving power is derived from the ring action the nozzles being adjusted to provide the control. The ring must whirl rapidly and therefore strike an appreciable blow for producing its greatest driving power, this action producing sufficient vibration of the stem to provide for the looseness of the latter to insure positive and even, free rotation.

The intense rotation of a metal ring in its unrestrained action would naturally bring about rapid wear on itself, upon the stem, the plate 3 and the flange l0 and in fact upon all parts with which it might come in contact and the said flange IU of its considerable area is therefore provided as one of its duties to protect the packing rings b, b and even the plate 6. However, by providing the described protecting nonmetallic liner for said ring this excessive wear is avoided. Not only is the rings bore protected but also the end surfaces of such ring where they contact with parts other than the stem 5.

The nozzles l8 can be adjusted with a minimum of effort merely by means of the fingers, and it is possible to provide a more exact adjustment than where locking means heretofore used are not present since the very act of fixing or looking the nozzle in a position placed would tend to alter an adjustment thought to be the correct one.

In disassembling the sprinkler to reach and repair or to replace any of the parts it is only necessary to remove the screws 8, whereupon the cage or housing I may be liftedfree along with the cap 25 after removing the screw connecting that member with the stem 26. The removal of the housing releases the plate 6 which together with the balance of the parts may be removed bodily, leaving the ring H, l2.

It is to be understood that while a satisfactory structure has been described changes may be made that will be equivalent thereof as coming within the meaning of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a tubular part of a relatively elastic nature having its wall Within its bore fully exposed, and ineluding an annular flange-terminating": each of" its ends whose outer surfaces at said ends lie sub stantially at right angles to the axis of such bore, said flanges being spaced from each other, the whole constituting a spool-like structure having greater measurement thereacross through the bore than in a direction measured parallel to the said axis, and a weighted ring encircling the tubular part between the flanges.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and wherein the inner face of the wall of the bore is constituted by a series of faces therearound disposed at an angle to each other, said faces in their longest measurement extending longitudinally of said bore.

3. An article of manufacture comprising'a ring having a weight characteristic and provided with a bore, and a ring of non-metallic material within-said bore concentric therewith, the walls of whose bore has a series of adjoining faces lying in planes substantially at right angles to the planes of the ring.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a ring having a weight characteristic, the walls of whose bore present a series of adjoining faces, and a liner ring of non-metallic material in said bore concentric with the periphery of the ring, the walls of bore of said liner also being faced, such faces coinciding severally with those of the first named ring and fitting upon the same.

5. In a sprinkler of the'type named, in combination, a hollow body for enclosing operating parts adapted at one end for connection with a water supply pipe, a removable plate seated upon and closing the other end of the body, an open-top housing surmounting the last named end of said body and engaging upon the plate, means to secure the housing to said body, a rotatable sprinkler body within the housing, and said plate having an opening therethrough, a driven rotatable hollow stem within the first named body below the plate and extending through the opening thereof into the housing and carrying said sprinkler body, a cap serving as a closure for the opening of the surmounting housing. and a stem carrying said cap and slidably fitting into the first named stem, the latter having a perforate wall for the entrance of water.

6. The combination in a sprinkler, of a sprinkler body structure rotatable about a central axis, the same having a cavity to receive water under pressure, and also having a bore through which water is dischargeable from said cavity, said bore being reduced in diameter adjacent the latter, a nozzle-stem extending into that portion of the bore having the largest diameter and having a groove in its outer surface lying in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the bore thereof, a washer adapted to be shifted into said groove and projecting therefrom, and a collar encircling the stem within the bore adapted to bear upon said washer for securing the nozzle in position.

7. The combination, in a sprinkler, of a sprinkler body rotatable about a central axis and having an upper and lower wall separated to create a cavity for receiving water, the upper wall being relatively thick and having at one side of said central axis a threaded bore communicating with said cavity through a reduced bore in said wall, a nozzle-stem extending into the threaded bore and having an annular groove to lie within such bore, a washer arouate in form adapted to engage about the stem in said groove and-extending from the periphery of such stem, and a collar threaded into the bore and engageable upon the thus extended washer, and for forcing the latter in the direction of the wall having such reduced bore.

8s The combination, in a sprinkler, of a sprinkler body rotatable about a central axis and having an upper and a lower wall separated to create a cavity for receiving water, the upper wall being relatively thick and having at one side of said central axis a threaded bore communicating with said cavity through a reduced bore in said wall, a nozzle-stem extending into the threaded bore and having an annular groove, a washer of open form to engage over the stem within the groove and extending from the periphery of the stern into the bore, and a collar threaded intothe bore and having a recess in its end to receive the extended portion of the washer into it, said collar adapted to hold the extremity of the stem in abutment with apart at the wall portionhaving the reduced bore.

9.- The combination, in a sprinkler, of a sprinkler body rotatable about a central axis and having an upper and a lower wall separated to create a cavity for receiving water, the upper wall being relatively thick and having at one side of said central axis a threaded bore communicating with said cavity through a reduced bore in said wall, a nozzle-stem extending into the threaded bore and having an annular groove within said bore, a washer of open. form to engage over the stern within the groove and extending from the periphery of said stem into the bore, a threaded collar to enter said bore to engage the extended portion of the washer, a packing ring mounted on the part of the wall of said body through which the said reduced bore extends, the collar adapted to engage the washer for forcing the end of the stem upon said packing ring.

10. In a sprinkler, the combination with a rotatable stem carrying a sprinkler body to be rotated and part of whose surface is comprised in a series of faces arranged around the same, of a water impelled rotatable ring encircling the stem the walls of whose bore comprise a series of faces lying at an angle to each other and adapted to strike upon the faces of said stem during rotation, the diameter of the bore of the ring being greater than the greatest diameter of the stem at its said faces.

11. In a sprinkler, the combination with a rotatable stem carrying a sprinkler body to be rotated and whose outer surface is comprised in a series of faces lying at an angle to each other, of a water impelled rotatable weighted ring encircling the stem, and a non-metallic liner in the bore of the ring whose bore consists of a series of wall faces lying at an angle to each other, the same adapted to strike upon the faces of said stem during rotation, the smallest diameter of the bore of said liner being greater than the greatest diameter of the stem at said faces thereof.

12. The invention according to claim 11 and wherein the liner overlies and covers the opposite outer surfaces of the ring lying outward from the bore of said liner parallelto the plane of the rotation of said ring.

13. In a sprinkler, in combination, a stem rotatable about a vertical axis and arranged and mounted to have endwise movement, the same having a surface consisting of a series of faces arranged at an angle to each other, a plate encircling the stem adjacent said faces, a water driven ring having a weight characteristic and encircling the stem opposite said faces, a nonmetallic liner in the bore of said ring and overlying the upper and lower surfaces of the same outward from said bore, said liner having a bore the walls of which are made up of a series of faces lying at an angle to each other, said liner having a part overlying the ring outward from the bore of such liner adapted in the gyrations of the ring to strike upon said plate.

14. In a sprinkler of the type named, in combination, a cavitied body for receiving Water under pressure, an erect rotatable tubular stem in said body, a ring within the body encircling the stem and having a bore greater than the diameter of said stem adapted to be rotated by water pressure, and a pair of nozzles surmounting the stem, one at each side of the axis of stem rotation, said nozzles being rotatable upon their mountings in opposed relation for providing various rates of rotation including a very slow rotation, said very slow rotation being assured due to the striking action of said ring upon said stem.

15. In a sprinkler of the type named, in combination, a cavitied body for receiving water under pressure, an erect rotatable tubular stem in said body, said stern having a series of faces arranged therearound, a ring within the body encircling the stem and having a bore greater in diameter than the greatest diameter of said stem, said ring adapted to be rotated by water pressure, and a pair of nozzles surmounting the stem, one at each side of the axis of stem rotation, said nozzles being rotatable upon their mountings in opposed relation for providing various rates of rotation including a very slow rotation, said very slow rotation being assured due .to the striking action of said ring upon said stem.

16. The invention according to claim 15 wherein the walls of the bore of the ring are defined by a series of faces lying at an angle to each other.

LEWEN R. NELSON. 

